Following the successful introduction of the BMW i3 to the DriveNow fleets in Germany, the UK and the USA, the next major step is being taken with the commissioning of 400 BMW i3 in Copenhagen on September 3rd 2015. What is new here is an all-electric fleet which is also interconnected with public transport. The future-oriented business model stands for even more targeted orientation of individual mobility towards the needs of people in metropolitan regions.
For BMW i, car sharing using electric vehicles is an important step in opening up convenient initial access to electric mobility to the public at large, in order to reduce traffic and emissions in cities and to make a contribution there towards better quality of life.
The Danish branch of the British Arriva PLC, with a share of 50 per cent is the largest bus operator in Copenhagen.
The BMW i3 ideally fulfills the requirements of this major project. Besides being designed as an emission-free electric car, it is also the world’s first automobile offering “intermodal routing”, i.e. the incorporation of public transport services into the navigation system’s route guidance in the car.
Dr. Bernhard Blättel, head of BMW Group mobility services adds: “Here in Copenhagen we are now already witnessing mobility of the future. It is on-demand technology, interconnected, quiet and electric. We are pleased to be able to introduce the capabilities of the BMW i3 and our expertise in future-oriented mobility concepts here in the Danish capital.”
Regarding the collaboration with Arriva he adds: “We are not rivals, but cooperate with the providers of public transport in order to further develop urban mobility in a customer-oriented and sustainable way”.
”We are proud and very happy to introduce this innovative solution to the city of Copenhagen together with our strong business partners. Furthermore, I am confident that DriveNow will prove as a unique opportunity for people to try out and enjoy the green means of transportation. This will contribute to a breakthrough for the electric cars,” comments Nikolaj Wendelboe, CEO of Arriva Denmark.
